Child Abuse Statistics & Facts

Scope of the Child Abuse Issue

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect.
It’s a widespread war against our children that we have the power to stop, and understanding the issue is the first step. Just how bad is the issue of child abuse in the United States?

Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children).

The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect. 1, 2

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

Yearly, referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million children, and around 3.2 million of those children are subject to an investigated report. 2

Quiz:

Do you know which type of child abuse is most prevalent?

Physical Abuse.

Physical Abuse.....

28.3%

Sexual Abuse......

20.7%

Emotional Neglect

14.8%

Emotional Abuse...

10.6%

Physical Neglect....

9.9%

Prevalence as reported by participants in landmark CDC/Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences study 1
We must learn to recognize early signs of abuse in order to help save the 5 children that die every day from child abuse and neglect. Learn More.

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In 2014, state agencies found an estimated 702,000 victims of child maltreatment,2 but that only tells part of the story.

This would pack 10 modern football stadiums

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Health Impacts of Child Abuse

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links adverse childhood experiences (which include other household dysfunctions along with abuse and neglect) with a range of long-term health impacts. 4

Individuals who reported six or more adverse childhood experiences had an average life expectancy two decades shorter than those who reported none. 5

In one study, 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse
met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder.6

Financial Impacts of Child Abuse

The long-term financial impact of abuse and neglect is staggering.

For new cases in 2008 alone, lifetime estimates of lost worker productivity, health care costs, special education costs, child welfare expenditures and criminal justice expenditures added up to $124 billion.8

This could send 1.7 million children to college

Child Abuse Fatalities

We must learn to recognize early signs of abuse in order to help save the 5 children that die every day from child abuse and neglect.

In 2014, state agencies identified an estimated 1,580 children who died as a result of abuse and neglect — between four and five children a day.2 However, studies also indicate significant undercounting of child maltreatment fatalities by state agencies — by 50% or more.10

That's roughly ¼ of your child's elementary school class.

More than 70% of the children who died as a result of child abuse or neglect were two years of age or younger. More than 80% were not yet old enough for kindergarten.3

Around 80% of child maltreatment fatalities involve at least one parent as perpetrator. 3